Narrabundah vs Fyshwick

Fyshwick is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Narrabundah. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Narrabundah, most households own their home. In Fyshwick, the large majority of households rent and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fyshwick: a median of $2.2 million, against $1.42 million in Narrabundah, though rent is higher in Narrabundah. Fyshwick is closer to the city centre: 10.2 km, against 13.3 km. On these figures, Narrabundah tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Fyshwick suits renters, young adults, and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Narrabundah

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 98/100)
  • But Fyshwick has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 68%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Narrabundah

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 51%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,415,500 vs $2,200,000)
  • has cheaper units ($570,000 vs $754,050)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fyshwick

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (100% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper rent ($323/wk vs $440/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Narrabundah is more walkable (84/100 vs 34/100)
  • Fyshwick sits closer to the CBD (10.2 km vs 13.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Narrabundah

ahead on 5 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 9%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 6%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Narrabundah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.3% vs -7.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Narrabundah and Fyshwick drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Walkability 84 / 34
Narrabundah — Walkability: 84/100 Fyshwick — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 31 / 2
Narrabundah — Safety: 31/100 Fyshwick — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 13 / 68
Narrabundah — Low fire risk: 13/100 Fyshwick — Low fire risk: 68/100
Low flood risk 57 / 17
Narrabundah — Low flood risk: 57/100 Fyshwick — Low flood risk: 17/100

Demographics

Narrabundah has more residents (6,455 vs 52); Narrabundah has higher household incomes ($122,356 vs $71,448).

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Population 6,455
+99% vs other
 52
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% -7.1%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $122,356/yr
+42% vs other
 $71,448/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+27% vs other
 $323/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
0-4 5.0% / —
Narrabundah — 0-4: 5.0% Fyshwick — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 12.7% / —
Narrabundah — 5-14: 12.7% Fyshwick — 5-14: not among its largest
15-19 5.8% / 5.8%
Narrabundah — 15-19: 5.8% Fyshwick — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.3% / 7.7%
Narrabundah — 20-24: 5.3% Fyshwick — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 12.5% / 30.8%
Narrabundah — 25-34: 12.5% Fyshwick — 25-34: 30.8%
35-44 14.5% / 25.0%
Narrabundah — 35-44: 14.5% Fyshwick — 35-44: 25.0%
45-54 13.7% / 21.2%
Narrabundah — 45-54: 13.7% Fyshwick — 45-54: 21.2%
55-64 12.2% / 17.3%
Narrabundah — 55-64: 12.2% Fyshwick — 55-64: 17.3%
65-74 9.2% / 5.8%
Narrabundah — 65-74: 9.2% Fyshwick — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 5.5% / —
Narrabundah — 75-84: 5.5% Fyshwick — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 3.6% / —
Narrabundah — 85+: 3.6% Fyshwick — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Narrabundah 38.8% couple families
Narrabundah — Couple Families: 38.8% Narrabundah — Lone Person: 39.3% Narrabundah — One Parent Families: 14.2% Narrabundah — Group Household: 6.3% Narrabundah — Other Families: 1.3%
Fyshwick 55.6% couple families
Fyshwick — Couple Families: 55.6% Fyshwick — Lone Person: 44.4% Fyshwick — One Parent Families: 0.0% Fyshwick — Group Household: 0.0% Fyshwick — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Narrabundah 37.9% renting
Narrabundah — Owned Outright: 27.6% Narrabundah — Mortgage: 34.5% Narrabundah — Renting: 37.9%
Fyshwick 100.0% renting
Fyshwick — Owned Outright: 0.0% Fyshwick — Mortgage: 0.0% Fyshwick — Renting: 100.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
China 1.2% / 5.8%
Narrabundah — China: 1.2% Fyshwick — China: 5.8%
England 3.4% / —
Narrabundah — England: 3.4% Fyshwick — England: not among its largest
India 2.6% / —
Narrabundah — India: 2.6% Fyshwick — India: not among its largest
Nepal 1.4% / —
Narrabundah — Nepal: 1.4% Fyshwick — Nepal: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.3% / —
Narrabundah — New Zealand: 1.3% Fyshwick — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Bachelor Degree 20.6% / 7.7%
Narrabundah — Bachelor Degree: 20.6% Fyshwick — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.8% / 15.4%
Narrabundah — Certificate III & IV: 6.8% Fyshwick — Certificate III & IV: 15.4%
Postgraduate Degree 14.8% / —
Narrabundah — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8% Fyshwick — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / —
Narrabundah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Fyshwick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / —
Narrabundah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Fyshwick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Narrabundah 68.2% houses
Narrabundah — Houses: 68.2% Narrabundah — Flats / Apartments: 19.1% Narrabundah — Townhouses: 12.7%
Fyshwick 90.9% houses
Fyshwick — Houses: 90.9% Fyshwick — Flats / Apartments: 9.1% Fyshwick — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Median house price $1,415,500 $2,200,000
Median unit price $570,000 $754,050
Median land price — $3,257,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 74 sales
 —

Development activity

Narrabundah Fyshwick
New dwellings approved 3,750
across Unincorporated ACT
same for both
Approvals change year on year -48%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Houses 3.8%
$778/wk on $1.06M
 —
Units 5.1%
$585/wk on $594K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Narrabundah Fyshwick
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of ACT Higher than 4% of ACT
Schools Higher than 68% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 89% of ACT Higher than 21% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 52% of ACT Higher than 98% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 48% of ACT Higher than 80% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of ACT —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of ACT —

Liveability

Narrabundah is more walkable (84 vs 34).

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Grade B —
Score 51/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 —

Risk profile

Narrabundah carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 32); Fyshwick carries more flood risk (83 vs 43).

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Bushfire High
87/100
 Low
32/100
Crime Moderate
69/100
 High
98/100
Flood Moderate
43/100
 High
83/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 3.3 km
same for both

Schools in Narrabundah

  • St Benedict's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Narrabundah College Government · Secondary
  • Narrabundah Early Childhood School Government · Primary

Schools in Fyshwick

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Cafes & restaurants 6 28
Parks & reserves 8 1
Childcare 4 2
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 7
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 3
same for both

Mobility

Narrabundah sits further from the CBD (13.3 km vs 10.2 km).

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Walkability score 84/100 34/100
Distance to Canberra 13.3 km
+23% vs other
 10.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 18 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 142.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.6%
postcode 2604
 5.0%
postcode 2609
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2604
 88
postcode 2609

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Car (driver) 66.3% / 47.1%
Narrabundah — Car (driver): 66.3% Fyshwick — Car (driver): 47.1%
Worked from Home 13.8% / 35.3%
Narrabundah — Worked from Home: 13.8% Fyshwick — Worked from Home: 35.3%
Car (passenger) 7.0% / 17.6%
Narrabundah — Car (passenger): 7.0% Fyshwick — Car (passenger): 17.6%
Bus 5.6% / —
Narrabundah — Bus: 5.6% Fyshwick — Bus: not among its largest
Bicycle 4.6% / —
Narrabundah — Bicycle: 4.6% Fyshwick — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.3%).

Setting

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Elevation 581 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 568 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Connectivity score 54/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
3,273 premises
 73%
2,308 premises

Climate

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Annual rainfall 622 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Narrabundah Fyshwick
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Narrabundah Fyshwick
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Narrabundah

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Fyshwick

Inner Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Narrabundah

Narrabundah vs Griffith Narrabundah vs Red Hill Narrabundah vs Symonston

Other comparisons with Fyshwick

Fyshwick vs Kingston Fyshwick vs Campbell Fyshwick vs Griffith Fyshwick vs Barton Fyshwick vs Symonston Fyshwick vs Pialligo
Full data on Narrabundah Full data on Fyshwick
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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